Film on ‘suicide’ teen Adam Rickwood

A hard hitting documentary detailing the death in custody of Burnley teenager Adam Rickwood hopes to shed new light on his alleged suicide.

News of the yet-to-be released social drama entitled “Adam Rickwood and The Medomsley Heroes” comes as Adam’s mum, Carol Pounder, visited the High Court to demand a new coroner for a second inquest into her son’s death.

Adam became the youngest person to die in British penal custody at the age of 14 when he was found hanged at the Hassockfield Secure Training Centre in County Durham, in 2004.

In May, 2007, a month-long inquest found Adam had deliberately taken his own life. But Mrs Pounder took the matter to the High Court and Lord Justice Blake ruled Adam had been unlawfully restrained, which has led to a second inquest.
Now Mrs Pounder believes Durham Coroner Andrew Tweddle, who conducted the first inquest, should not preside over the second inquest as he refused to rule on the legality of physical restraint methods used on Adam first time around. The family is now awaiting the judge’s decision.

About the author

4WardEver UK was launched in 2006 by Tippa Naphtali the cousin of Mikey Powell, who died in the custody of West Midlands police, Birmingham, UK in September 2003.
Its purpose is to provide profiles, news, event details, resources and useful information, appeals, and more in relation to deaths in custody and other injustices. 4WardEver is run entirely by a small volunteer team, and funded from voluntary contributions and donations.
We support the call for reform within police, penal and mental health institutions in the UK and internationally.